Howdy,

A FOP (Friend of the Polecat) doesn’t like kickers because they miss field goals.

“They have one job!,” FOP will howl after an NFL kicker shanks a 54-yarder.

Folks, kicking a field goal is hard (just ask former Chicago Bear Cody Parkey). The snap has to be perfect. The holder has to get the ball down and set it up just right. The line has to keep 11 guys from maiming the kicker.

It's for all those reasons (and more) that we’re constantly surprised when we see a Connecticut high school kicker nail a field goal from more than 20 yards out.

HATS OFF, then, to Ridgefield’s Adam Biernat. The former soccer player, in his first season kicking for the Tigers, was sent out to kick a 37-yard field goal in a tie game against fourth-ranked New Canaan on Friday night and two seconds left in the game.

The Rams called two timeouts to try to rattle Biernat. It didn’t work as he nailed the kick as time expired to give Ridgefield a huge 17-14 win over a perennial state power.

(Don’t forget that Hall’s Noe Ruelas kicked a state-record 56-yard field goal in last week’s 9-3 loss to Simsbury).

Adding to the drama was that the Tigers started their game-winning drive at their own 12-yard line with 1:33 left in the game after Chris Lang intercepted a Drew Pyne pass.

Ridgefield's Owen Matthews threw a 17-yard pass to Nick Agliardo on first down. Three plays later, Kai Prohaszka took a short pass 39 yards to set up Biernat’s field goal.

Matthews completed 26 of 41 passes for 399 yards and a touchdown.

YOU are encouraged to read Dave Ruden’s game story over at The Ruden Report.

Here’s some other things of note from Friday night:

Hand 55, Middletown 6

The Tigers done tore the wings off the Blue Dragons. Phoenix Billings completed 9 of 14 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 96 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown, for the top-ranked team in The Day's state coaches poll. Go read Dave Phillips' gamer for the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith.

Darien 24, Southington 8

Michael Minicus needed just four catches to gain 116 yards and score three times as the fourth-ranked Blue Wave knocked off the No. 6 Blue Knights. Darien’s defense was as defensive as ever as they had four interceptions, including two by Connor O’Malley. He returned his second pick for a 21-yard touchdown. Go read Dave Stewart’s gamer for the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith.

Greenwich 42, Trumbull 7

Hunter Clark ran for 126 yards and three TDs for the second-ranked Cardinals. Go read David Fierro’s gamer for the GameTimeCT/Hearst Inc. Monolith.

Newtown 21, Fairfield Prep 14

Mike Ricks ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 57 yards as the No. 8 Nighthawks won on the road versus the No. 10 Jesuits. Go read Michael “Pucks” Fornabaio’s gamer for you-know-what.

Wethersfield 21, Platt 14

Wethersfield recovered a fumble at midfield with 4:58 left and the game tied at 14. It set up Matt Silver's go-ahead touchdown run with 1:47 remaining. It’s a huge win for the Eagles because Platt was a Class L semifinalist last year and returned enough of that team to make a run at the M championship (it dropped down a division due to enrollment). Go read Ron Buck's gamer for the Meriden Record-Journal.

Windsor 28, Masuk 27

Windsor’s Tishay Johnson deflected a two-point conversion pass with 2:18 left in the game. You can read a blurb about this game at the Hartford Courant.

The biggest winner of this game is Newington. It beat Windsor last week, 30-22. And speaking of Newington....

Newington 42, Bristol Eastern 7

Nick Pestrichello completed 15 of 17 passes for 224 yards with three TDs for the Indians. Go read David Glovach’s gamer for The Herald (of New Britain).

Valley Regional/Old Lyme 21, Cromwell/Portland 0

Jack Cox threw touchdowns passes of 17 and 30 yards to James Marsden for the WARRIORCATS. Their defense also had five interceptions. The Panthers were an early and important obstacle for Valley/Lyme to clear for two reasons:

1. Crom/Port is a consistent Pequot Football League threat.

2. Crom/Port shut out Haddam-Killingworth last weekend, 3-0. H-K was last season’s Class S runner-up and had more than enough back to be the Pequot's best.

Go read Vickie Fulkerson’s gamer for TEAMDAY~!

Sheehan 56, New Fairfield 32

Terrence Bogan and Jordan Davis both make this game noteworthy. Bogan ran 28 times for 355 yards and four TDs. Jordan Davis also scored four times. Go read Peter Dewey’s gamer for the Meriden Record-Journal.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading. More soon. Not sure when.

Adios.